Setting The Tone In Your Home (Fundamentals of Homemaking)

Welcome to the first installment of the Fundamentals of Homemaking Series where you will learn simple ways to enhance your homemaking journey so that you can make the most of being a homemaker.

As a homemaker for almost 6 years, I’ve learned that setting the tone in your home is one of the most important, yet overlooked homemaking practices.

It actually took me a while to understand the impact of intentional homemaking. For years I lived in a space of overwhelm due to all of the things that needed to be done.

Don’t get me wrong, my husband absolutely does his fair share (even more so- I’m really blessed), however, he’s also out working hard to provide for our family.

I also realize that it is a luxury to be a homemaker. I know that in society today many would completely disagree. However, I recognize that as a homemaker I have the luxury of being fully present for my family.

As a result, I am able to be intentional with each day. Crafting our days to highlight the strengths of my husband and our children while providing them with the things that bring them joy. I also get to accommodate them during the tough times, making sure that they have the things they need to help them thrive.

In doing so, I have come to understand that I am completely in charge of how efficiently our home functions. This is what motivated me to create systems so that I could effectively manage our home without constantly being overwhelmed.

That said, I also realized that ultimately I set the tone in the home. If I’m having a bad day, 9 times out of 10, everyone will feel it and that then becomes the tone for the day. Similarly, if I’m happy and full of joy, that would set the tone for the day.

After discovering this, I created daily rituals to help set the tone that I desired for our home.

So if you’ve been looking for ways to set the tone in your home intentionally or if this is your first time hearing this concept, I want to share six ways that I intentionally set the tone for my home.

6 Ways To Set The Tone In Your Home

Prayer

First and foremost is prayer! Prayer is so crucial for so many aspects of our lives and praying over your home can have a huge impact on your family and the overall peace in your home. I like to pray for our home to be protected and for it to be a place of peace. This bullet point can be a topic all on its own, however, for the purposes of this post, I encourage you to say a quick prayer over your home in the mornings as you start your day. It truly makes such a difference.

Adjust Lighting Throughout The Day

One of my favorite ways to set the tone in my home is by adjusting lighting throughout the day. Since becoming more of a morning person, as soon as I wake up, I open all of the drapes and blinds and let the natural light fill the house. Of course, when it’s raining and/or overcast I’m not able to do this, but I absolutely love and prefer natural light during the day.

Once it’s mid-day or evening, I switch over to our regular lighting and when it’s time to prepare for bed, I switch the lamps on for more dimmed lighting. Adjusting the lighting throughout the day sets the tone as we go through the day and almost acts as ‘triggers’ for my little ones. For example, once the lights are off and the lamps are switched on, they know it’s time to grab their pj’s and prepare for bed.

Music

Another great way to set the tone in your home is by incorporating music. I’ve always loved music and so do my kids and music is a great way to add a bit of mental stimulation when you’re taking a break from the screens. Rainy and overcast days are a great time to play music since it contrasts with the gloomy outside weather.

Worship music in the mornings is a great way to start the day and I also like to play a bit of jazz/classical music during downtime in the afternoons. And of course every now and again we listen to songs from their favorite shows and movie soundtracks while they dance and play.

Dedicated Spaces

With three children ages five and under, I accepted long ago that I would have to find creative ways to accommodate their things. So in each room, I have what I like to call dedicated spaces. Dedicated spaces can be anything you need them to be and they come in so handy when you need to clean up in a pinch. I like looking at things that always end up in a room with me, no matter what room I’m in, and creating dedicated spaces for those things.

For example, I have a small corner in our living room next to the couch where I keep a couple of baskets of their toys that seem to always end up in the living room. That way, at the end of the day when toys are spread all over the floor, I can easily and quickly tidy up using the baskets in that dedicated space.

I also have a similar dedicated space in my office so that I can actually get work done if they happen to be in the office with me. Another dedicated space that is great for moms is a small diaper station. I use one of those fabric, collapsable drawers to keep a couple of diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, and diaper rash cream. This comes in so handy, especially when your baby is tiny and having those lovely unexpected blowouts.

Cleanliness

You knew it was coming, but cleanliness is one of the most important ways to set the tone in your home. A cluttered and unorganized home usually only adds to any frustration or irritation you may already be experiencing. Not to mention, having people over or entertaining in any capacity is not an option.

Trust me, I’ve been there and the clutter can be overwhelming – which can really impact your mental health. The only solution that I found was to create a system for cleaning. I know I talk about systems A LOT, but since implementing them, they have truly changed my life. Having a system that I follow for keeping all of the major rooms in my home clean has helped me stay on top of things. So now, even when a bit of clutter builds up, everything has a place and cleaning doesn’t take much time at all.

Aesthetics

Last but definitely not least is aesthetics. In the age of IG and TikTok, certain aesthetics can be pretty unrealistic and cause you to compare your home to another. I encourage you to try your best to avoid comparison and create an aesthetic that will serve your family while not breaking the bank on trends.

Some of my favorite aesthetic elements to add to my home are fresh flowers, faux plants, candles, and simple artwork. I’m no interior designer but I feel that these things really enhance a space and can be done on any budget! For example, I wanted to liven up our guest bathroom without spending unnecessary money on a new shower curtain and bath mats. Since we already had those things, I shifted my focus to adding a couple of cute pieces of wall art and two tiny succulents to add a bit more life to the bathroom. Since my kids primarily use this bathroom, I avoided adding a candle for obvious reasons.

When creating an aesthetic for your home, it can be tempting to follow trends, but instead, do what feels right and what is reasonable for the season that you and your family are in.

There you have it!

6 simple, easy ways that you can begin to set the tone in your home! I know this homemaking journey can be tough but these simple tips can help you get started on your journey to create an atmosphere in your home where you and your family can thrive.